Arc furnace electrode feed regulator system



Jan. 13, 1948. P. B. sTEED ETAL.

ARC FURNACE ELECTRODE FEED REGULATOR SYSTEM Filed Nov. 29, 1944 ATTORN Patented Jan. 13, 1948 ARC FURNACE ELECTRODE FEED REGULATOR SYSTEM Paul B. Steed, Detroit, Mich.,

and Cyril C. Levy,

deceased, late of Wilkinsburg, Pa., by Helen A. Levy, executrix, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 29, 1944, Serial No. 565,722 Claims. (Cl. 314-75) This invention relates to regulator systems, and, in particular, to regulators for governing the operation of the movable electrodes of electric arc furnaces.

In operating an electric furnace of the movable electrode type, it is desirable to automatically raise and lower each electrode in accordance with some furnace condition,v and to maintain a substantially constant electrode arc. Heretofore, the regulation has been obtained by utilizing a measure of the current flowing through the arc and the voltage drop across the arc to control the operation of an electrode motor. However, the current fiowing through the arc tends to Vary at a fast rate, with the result that it is sometimes difficult to obtain stable regulation.

An object of this invention is to provide a regulating system for arc furnaces, in which provision is made to regulate the electrode arc in accordance with the power factor of the arc.

Another object of this invention is to utilize a measure of the power factor of the arc in an arc furnace, to regulate the operation of the electrode motor utilized for positioning the electrode.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing the single figure of which is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus illustrating embodiments of this invention.

Referring to the drawing, an are furnace I0 is illustrated, having a metal receptacle or shell I2 containing a bath of material |4, and having three movable electrodes I6, I8 and 20 positioned adjacent thereto. The electrodes I6, 8 and 20 are connected by conductors 22, 24 and 26, respectively, to a suitable source of power through a power transformer (not shown). Means, such as a flexible cable 28 and a pulley 30 are provided, being associated with each of the electrodes for raising and lowering the electrodes. Three rectangular areas 32, 34 and 36 are indicated, each representing the apparatus associated with one of the three phases for operating the phase electrodes I6, I8 and 20, respectively. Since the operating mechanism for each of the three phases is identical, only one of the operating mechanisms is illustrated in detail and shown enclosed in the rectangular area 36.

As illustrated, the flexible cable 28 may be wound upon a winding drum 38 operated by a reversible electrode motor 40. The electrode motor 40 comprises a field winding 42 disposed to be energized from any suitable direct-current 55 the terminals of the secondary source, such as the battery 44, and an armature winding 46 connected by conductors 48 and 50 to a main generator 52 that is driven by an alterhating-current motor 54 and excited by an exciter generator 56.

The main generator 52 comprises an armature winding 58 connected to the conductors 48 and 50 and a field winding 60 disposed to be supplied with energy from the armature winding 62 of the exciter generator 56. As illustrated, one terminal of the armature winding 62 is connected through a self-exciting winding 64 for the exciter generator 58 and conductor 66 to a terminal of the field winding 60, the other terminal of the armature winding 62 being connected by conductor 68 to the other terminal of the field winding of the main generator 52. The exciter generator 56 is also provided with two control eld windings l0 and l2 which are disposed to be energized so as to oppose each other and cooperate in controlling the excitation of the exciter generator 56.

The control eld winding l2 is connected by conductors 14 and 'I6 to the output terminals of a full-wave rectifier "I8, one of the input terminals of which is connected by conductor to the casing or shell I2 of the furnace I0, the other input terminal of the rectifier being connected through an adjustable resistor 82 to the electrode 20. The resistor 82 is provided for adjusting the voltage supplied to the rectifier 18 with respect to the voltage across the furnace arc. The control field winding I2 is thus energized at a voltage that is a measure of the drop in voltage across the furnace arc.

The control field winding 'l0 is disposed to be energized in response to the power factor of the arc. As illustrated, the control field winding I0 is connected to be energized by the transformer 84, the primary winding of which is connected across phase conductors 24 and 26. A pair of electric discharge devices 86 and 88 are connected to rectify the current fiowing from the secondary Winding of transformer 84 to and through the control eld winding l0.

The valves 86 and 88 are similar, having anodes 90 and 92, respectively, grids 94 and 96, respectively, and cathodes 98 and |00, respectively. The control field winding 'I0 has'one of its terminals connected by conductor |02 to a common lead between the cathodes 98 and |00 of the valves 86 and 88, respectively, and the other terminal is connected by conductor |04, adjustable resistor |06 and conductor |08 to the midor center-tap of the secondary winding of the transformer 84, winding being connected by conductors H8 and ||2 to the anodes 90 and 92, respectively, of the Valves 86 and 88. The adjustable resistor |06 is included in the circuit just described, in order to provide 'an adjustment for Vdetermining or limiting the maximum current ilow in the control field wind. ing l0, to determine or balance the energization of the Winding 'I0 in opposition to that of the winding 12.

In order to provide a negative bias on the -grids 94 and 96, a battery ||4 is connected in 'the grid circuit of the valves 86 and 88, one terminalof the battery being connected .by conductor 'H16 to the common lead between the catho'des 98 and lll!) of the valves, the other terminal of the battery being connected by conductor |8 to the mid- Yor center-tap of the secondary winding '|29 of `:an impulse transformer |22, the terminals lof the secondary winding |26 being connected *by conductors |24 and |26 to the grids 94 and 95, respectively, of the valves B6 `and 8.

Each of the valves 8B .and 88 .has the ,characteristic that when used on alternating-current voltage, if rendered conducting by -a grid impulse, it will conduct current for the remaining portion ofthe positive half-cycle of the voltage wave, but will be rendered noneconducting when the voltage decreases to the arc-:drop value o'f lthe valve, and will not be reestablished during the negative half-cycle of that voltage wave. By .utilizing `two valves in opposition, as described, .full-wave rectilication and control of current flowing in the control neld winding 11| maybe obtained.

The impulse transformer 4.22 is provided for controlling the firing Vof the valves 8,6 and `8 8 in response to the phase 'angle 'of the current flowing through phase conductor 26 and the arc Vbetween electrode .2 and the bath of material N. As illustrated, the primary winding |28 `of the impulse transformer |22 is connected across :a .current transformer |30, which is disposed in .inductive relation with the ,phase conductor 26. The impulse transformer |22 is of a #type Wellknown to industry, the leg of the magnetic core upon which the secondary winding ,|20 is wound being so designed that it will saturate very early in the current cycle Vand, as a result :of the rapid saturation, will provide a. peaked impulse of :considerable magnitude. Thus, although the valves 86 and 88 are normally .maintained non-conducting by the negative bias `applied thereto by the battery ||4 in the grid circuit when the impulse transformer |22 impresses its peaked voltage yon the grid biasing circuits, the glids 9'4 and 95 are alternately rendered less negative, or more positive, to cut the critical vgrid voltage ofthe `valves and render them conductive.

The phase position of the alternate impulses impressed on the grid circuits by the impulse transformer |22 are dependent upon the angle of the current owing through the arc. 'Sincethe valves 86 and 88 are connected `so as to :be of opposite polarity, one-half Vof the secondary winding |20 being associated with each'of the valves, the valves `are alternately rendered conducting by lthe peaked voltage being impressedupon the half of the secondary winding |20 associated with the respect-ive valves. Thus, at unity power factor, the impulse comes iat the peakof the positive hal-fcycle of the voltage wave associated with therespective valves, whereas, for 'a'leadingpower factor of the arc, the impulse comes at an earlier time in the positive half-cycle of the'voltage wave associated with the respective valves, and, for 'a lagging power factor, the impuse comes later in the positive half-cycle of the voltage wave associated with the valves. Thus, with the secondary winding |20 being divided and each half of the winding |20 being connected in the grid circuits as described, the valves and 88 Aare alternately rendered conducting in 'response to the power factor of the furnace arc. As the current passed by r'the Valves B6 and 8B determines the energization out of contact with the body of material I4, which is to be heated in the furnace receptacle l2. Under these conditions, no current will be flowing through the electrodes |8 and 20, and the control eld winding 18 will .be deenergized. 'The voltage between the electrode .2i and the shell 12 will, however, be a lmaximum whereby the control eld winding 12 will be fully energized.

The control eld winding l2 :thus excites the exciter generator 56 :to develop a voltage which is applied to the main generator eld winding i0, having Ia polarity to `cause the main generator :52 to build up in a direction to operate themotcr '40 to move the 'electrode 2|! .downwardly As the exciter voltage in the armature B2 ibuilds up, the flow of current .through the self-energizing winding 54 increases to increase the frate `of voltage build-up of the exciter generator 5i, thus causing this voltage to build up more rapidly than it otherwise would. Thus, under the influence of the eld windings 64 and l2, the motor 401s operated to rapidly lower the electrode 20 to a. position where it contacts the .material H :in the furnace |'2.

When the electrodes Hi, IB and 26 are lowered and the -rst one, in this 'case electrode '26, engages the material M, the `voltage.ofthe arc impressed across the rectifier IB 'and consequently across the leld winding I2 collapses 'or drops to a very `low value. Thus, inteifectmhecontroleld winding l2 is short-ed out -of service, :and .if the voltage on the control leldl Winding l2 collapses, it causes a corresponding 'reduction in the :ontput voltage of the exciter generator 56 and of the main generator -52 winch is applied to the electrode motor 40. When one of the -fother electrodes, I6 or I8, vis loweredzsulliciently :taza-leniengage the bathrof material ll. a current starts to flow lthrough the -bathlbetween their-electrodes, ,and a resistance dropin voltage between the electrodes'and the :casing l2 appears, thus causing :an increase in voltage between the electrodes and the casing 12 with a corresponding increase in the `energizaticn -of the control 4ie'ld winding l2, r-Ilie effect `of the vcontrol held winding "l2 :on the exciter generator 56 :is in a 'directionto tend to operate the motor All :in da direction-to ilower ,the electrode 20, -as explained rhereinbefore. However, since current is .now flowing through the arc, Vthe control :eld winding l0 will be fenetgized, so Ias to develop .a lilux to oppose Ythe -rlux developed by the eld winding l2. The direction in which the motor 4D will now operate lis, therefore, dependent upon which of the two control eld'windings "Hl'or `|.2:predonu'nate.

When the flux produced .by the eld winding 'l0 is greater than that produced by thecon-'trol held 4winding "l2, the flux will cause the exciter generator '56 to develop a voltage having a polarity such as energizes the main generator eld winding Gil in a direction to impress a voltage on the motor armature It having a polarity to cause the motor d!) to operate in a direction to raise the electrode 2e. In a similar manner, if the ilux developed by the control eld winding 12 is greater than that developed by the control field winding lil, the polarity of the Voltage developed by the exciter generator 5t will be reversed, thus impressing a voltage on the armature 46 of the motor dil, such as to cause the electrode 20 to be lowered.

In normal operation, the resistors 82 and |06 are adjusted, so that the control eld windings lil and 12 will be substantially equally energized, but in opposition for a given position of the electrode 20 with respect to the material lll and, consequently, for a predetermined power factor of the arc. Under such conditions, the control eld windings 16 and l2 neutralize each other, and the electrode 2@ is maintained stationary relative to the material lil.

If, during the normal operation of the furnace, the power factor of the are Should vary from the predetermined power factor selected for balanced operating conditions as, for example, if the power factor should increase tending toward a more leading power factor, the increase in current flow through the phase conductor Z6 will cause the impulse transformer |22 to saturate earlier in the positive half-cycle, whereby more current flows through the control field winding lo to upset the balance between the eld windings 10 and 'I2 and effect an operation of the motor 40 to raise the electrode 20 to a position where the power factor of the arc returns to the initially predetermined power factor required.

If, on the other hand, the power factor should tend toward a more lagging power factor, then the saturation of the impulse transformer I 22 comes at a later period in the positive half-cycle of the voltage wave with the result that the valves 86 and 88 are rendered conducting at a later time in the positive half-cycle of the voltage wave associated with the respective valves and the current flowing through the control field winding 1U is decreased. When this occurs, the control eld winding 12 so energizes the exciter generator 56 as to effect an operation of the electrode motor 40 to lower the electrode 20 to a position where the power factor is returned to the predetermined power factor required.

By utilizing the system of this invention, it is apparent that an automatic control of the positioning of the electrodes in an arc furnace is obtained, so as t0 maintain a substantially constant power factor of the furnace arc. Further, since the power factor of the arc does not change as rapidly as the current flowing through the arc, it is apparent that a more stable regulation is obtained than where the regulation is dependent upon a balance between the current and voltage of the arc.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is, of course, not to be limited thereto, except insofar as is necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a furnace-regulator system, the combination with a movable electrode, a motor for operating the electrode, and a main generator for supplying energy to the motor, of means for governing the operation of the motor to regulate the arc, said means comprising an exciter generator connected for exciting the main generator, a pair of oppositely energized control eld windings for the exciter generator, means for energizing one of said pair of control field windings with a current that is a measure of the voltage across the arc, and means for energizing the other one of said pair of control field windings with a current that is a measure of the power factor of the arc.

2. In a furnace-regulator system, the combination comprising, a movable electrode, a motor for operating the electrode, means for controlling the operation of the motor to control the are, said means including a pair of control voltages having opposite polarities, one of saidl pair of control voltages being a measure of the voltage across the arc, means including a pair of electric valves disposed to control the other one of said pair of control voltages, each of the electric valves having a grid to be utilized for controlling the conductivity thereof, and a grid circuit for each of the valves responsive to the phase angle of the current flowing through the electrode for controlling the bias of the grids and the output of the valves whereby the other one of said pair of control voltages is a measure of the power factor of the arc.

3. In a furnace-regulator system, the combination with a movable electrode, a motor for operating the electrode, and a main generator for supplying energy to the motor, of means for governing the operation of the motor to regulate the arc, said means comprising an exciter generator connected for exciting the main generator, a pair of oppositely energized control field windings for the exciter generator, means for energizing one of said pair of control eld windings with a current, that is a measure of the voltage across the arc, means including a pair of electric valves disposed to connect the other one of said pair of control eld windings to a sou-roe of power, each of the electric valves having a grid to be utilized for controlling the conductivity thereof, and a grid circuit for the valves responsive to the phase angle of the current flowing through the electrode for controlling the bias of the grids to control the energization of the other one of said pair of control eld windings.

4. In a furnace-regulator system, the combination with a movable electrode, a motor for 0perating the electrode, and a main generator forsupplying energy to the motor, of means for governing the operation of the motor to regulate the arc, said means comprising an exciter generator connected for exciting the main generator, a pair of oppositely energized control field windings for the exciter generator, means for energizing one of said pair of control eld windings with a current that is a measure of the voltage across the arc, means including a pair of electric valves disposed to control the other one of said pair of control voltages, each of the electric valves having a grid to be utilized for controlling the conductivity thereof, and means for rendering the grids positive in response to the phase angle of the current flowing through the electrode, the positive biasing means including an impulse transformer connected to be responsive to the ilow of current through the elect-rode.

5. In a furnace-regulator system, the combination comprising, a movable electrode, a motor for operating the electrode, means for controlling the operation of the motor to control the a-rc, said means including a pair of control voltages having opposite polarities, one of said pair of control voltages being a measure of the voltage across ensues the arc, means including ya. pair 1of electric vaghtes disposed to .control the nther .une of Vs112111 of control voltages, each .of the electric valves :having a grid to Abe utilized tor -oontroliing the conductivity thereof, and means tor rendering the grids positive in vresponse to the phase angle of fthe curi-` rent owng through the electrode, the positive biasing means including an impulse tramsfnnmer connected to be responsive to the ow Joit current lthrough the electrode.

, PAUL S'IIEED.

Executri of the Estate m YCyril C.. Lew, De.-

ceased,

REFERENCES The following `references are of record Ain 'the 111e of this patent: 

